Brown's Interiors founder built business to survive

Steve Brown, co-founder and chief executive of Brown's Interiors in Boca Raton, left his family the greatest gift he could: a well-run business that would prosper after he's gone.

Brown, 58, died the morning of April 9 after he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle on Lyons Road, west of Boca Raton. About a half-hour before, he had left his father, Murray, a "Happy 85th Birthday" message. His wife, Dana, and daughter Susan were returning from a pleasant shopping trip.

The sheriff was waiting for them at the store with the terrible news.

No family expects such a tragedy, but one in business together needs to plan for one, experts say.

The Browns' nearly 40-year-old interior design business will go on, the family says, run by Dana with help from family.

"Everybody has the feeling they want to keep going to honor Steve," said Dana Brown, who met with family members shortly after the accident to discuss the business.

Fortunately, her husband planned ahead both for his family and the business. "We're dealing with the emotional. Thank God we don't have to worry about surprises," she said. "[Steve] left us in good shape."

Steve and Dana, who met when they were teenagers, have been working side by side in the business since shortly after they were married in 1978. Other family members have joined the business over the years.

Tim Devlin, a CPA with the Daszkal Bolton accounting firm in Boca Raton, knows all too well how important it is for a small business to plan for the worst. Daszkal Bolton lost his partner Jeff Bolton in a swimming accident last year.

"A good first start is understanding what the liabilities are and understanding what transition might look at if something were to happen to one of the principals," Devlin advises. Key man life insurance – life insurance on a specific key person in a business – can help ease the transition, settling an estate without disrupting the business, he said.

A small business that loses a principal or partner may also have to hire a top salesperson or executive who can fill the skills gap left by the departing executive.

The Browns already have management in place and 11 interior designers, many of whom have been with the business 20 or more years.

Daughter Susan Brown, 31, who joined the business about three years ago as marketing director, calls her father a "champion schmoozer." Now she's taking on some of that client outreach.

"He was all about customer service," she said.

Bernhardt furniture representative Jim Annunziata sold to Brown for 30 years and liked the way he did business. "He was dealing with Boca customers, and they're tough," he said. "He did lots of favors for people. He was always accommodating."

As chief executive, Brown saw his role as providing support to the business's 29 employees, often calling himself the designer's "assistant."

"I was a very lucky sister," Pam Nadler said. Steve would call her every day to find out how he could help her in her job. " 'What can I do for you?' he would ask. He was our rock here."

After the accident, an employee designed bracelets for the staff inscribed with "WWSD," which stands for "What would Steve do?"

His father, Murray Brown, said he advised his son when starting the business in 1975: "If you keep it straight and honest, you'll get it back."

Steve grew up working in Murray's furniture stores in Wisconsin, later moving to Boca Raton to strike out on his own. His father followed him to Florida and manages the Jupiter store.

Murray Brown said he feels a "tremendous loss" because Steve was both son and business partner.

"We talked with each other three or four times a week, and played off each other's talents," his father said.